Jonathan Vandiar, a left-hand batsman, is among the most purely talented South African batting prospects of recent times. An attractive middle-order strokeplayer whose repertoire of shots seems to swell with each passing season, he announced himself with an aggressive 103 for South Africa against Bangladesh in an under-19 Test in Potchefstroom in 2006-07. Vandiar has been something of a fixture in South Africa's junior national sides, not least because of his ability to bowl decent legspin. He is also an aggressively athletic fielder in the great South African tradition. Vandiar's career was put on hold by a torn Achilles in 2008-09, but it will take more than that to prevent him from reaching his potential.Telford Vice